Dispensing caddy

ABSTRACT

A caddy for storing products such as canned goods. The caddy connects to a dispensing - - - of purchase display unit. The product dispenser opening is - - - by a set of perforated tear lines on one or more of a plurality of forms of the caddy. The caddy eliminates the jumbled appearance of a shelf of loose cans or jars while allowing customers to easily withdraw canned goods from the caddy.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/582,257 filed Jun. 23, 2004, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60,625,913 filed Nov. 8, 2004 the disclosures of which are incorporated in their entirety herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to improvements in dispensing caddies and in particular to shipping cartons that are convertable to dispensing point-of-purchase display units in stores, dispensing cartons for home use, and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of dispensing caddies include shipping cartons that also serve as in-store product dispensing caddies and display units by simply removing tear-away perforated sections of the carton. Customers easily withdraw canned goods from the units, and as each can is withdrawn another can within the carton falls or rolls by gravity to take its place.

In one embodiment, the carton has a lower dispensing window and an upper hinged opening allowing for easy replacement of a canned good when customers change their minds. In another embodiment, the cans roll down an inner ramp. In both embodiments, the lower edge of the dispensing window advantageously provides a lip or ridge that securely holds the canned goods within the container while permitting a can to be easily withdrawn by the customer.

The cartons are advantageously printed with graphics to enhance the cartons as point-of-purchase display units and advertising vehicles.

The improved dispensing caddies eliminate the jumbled appearance of a shelf of loose cans or jars. Instead, dispensing cartons located on shelves of supermarkets enhance both the appearance of the store and the advertising space for the dispensed goods. Moreover, the dispenser caddy eliminates the labor of stacking the individual canned goods that are offered for sale in a store.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the exterior of one embodiments of the dispensing caddy in its unopened configuration;

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the dividers used to partition the interior of the dispensing carton of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the dispensing carton of FIG. 1A wherein the dividers of FIG. 1B are shown by phantom lines within the interior of this carton;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the dispensing caddy of FIG. 1A showing, in phantom lines, the carton loaded with canned goods;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the dispensing carton of FIGS. 1A, 2 and 3 in its opened, dispensing configuration;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the dispensing carton of FIG. 1A, illustrating the canned goods loaded into the carton through a side opening;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the dispensing caddy having an internal ramp and showing canned goods loaded into the carton through a side opening;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the exterior of the dispensing carton of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the dispensing carton of FIG. 6 in its opening dispensing configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A first embodiment provides an upright dispensing caddy for a plurality of canned goods. This embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, includes a rectangular shipping carton 20 and one or more internal divider sections 21.

One side 22 of carton 20, as shown in FIG. 1A, includes perforated tear lines 25, to provide, as described below, a hinged return opening panel or flap 26. In addition, as described below, perforated tear lines 30 surround a panel 31. As described below and shown in FIG. 4, removal of panel 31 provides a dispensing opening 32 through which customers can withdraw one or more of the canned goods. Advantageously, as shown in FIG. 5, one wall of carton 20 can be opened to facilitate packing of the canned goods 40 within the carton.

As shown in FIG. 2, the dividers 21 are located within the carton 20 to divide the interior space of the carton into three compartments 35, 36 and 37. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, canned goods 40 are loaded into these compartments with the walls of dividers 21 providing a separation between three layers of canned goods 40, both during packing and shipment of the carton 20 and, as described below, as shoppers dispense the canned goods from the dispensing carton 20. The cans are advantageously loaded so that their cylindrical axes are perpendicular to the walls of the divider 21. The dimensions between the inside wall of carton 20 and a facing wall of divider 21 are such as to limit movement of the cans 40 and cushion each column of cans from an adjacent column during shipping, while allowing a sufficient gap so that each of the cans 40 are free to move vertically and horizontally within each of the compartments to replace 25, 26, 27 the cans 40 withdrawn by the shopper until the carton is empty. The dividers 21 further maintain the cans 40 with their axes perpendicular to the divider so that the cans 40 do not become wedged within the dispensing carton.

At the point-of-purchase, side 22 of carton 20 is pressed along perforation 25 to separate the ends and bottom of flap 26 to allow flap 26 to be opened as shown in FIG. 4. In addition, side 22 of carton 20 is pressed along the perforations 30 to facilitate removal of panel 31 to create dispensing opening 32.

The height of dispensing opening 32 is advantageously larger than its diameter of the cans 40 so that the cans can be easily withdrawn by a shopper. As each can 40 is withdrawn, another can drops down within the compartments 35, 36, or 37 from which the can 40 was withdrawn until each compartment is emptied.

For irregular shaped articles, the height of the dispensing opening 32 may be further enlarged since, even if an extra container is inadvertently withdrawn though the enlarged opening 32, the shopper can simply and easily return the extra item(s) to the dispensing caddy through panel 26.

Canned goods 40 include any merchandise, whether a food or non-food item, that is packaged in a container having an external shape compatible with an embodiment of the dispensing caddy. Thus, although a cylindrical can is shown in the drawings, it will apparent that jars of food, e.g., baby food, jams, canned fruit and vegetables, etc. are readily adapted for shipment and on-site dispensing using embodiments of this invention. Additional myriad examples of goods that can be advantageously shipped in and dispensed from the dispensing caddy can be found on store shelves and include pet food; canned salmon; tennis balls in cans, beverage bottles, i.e., any type of package that will freely fall or slide within a compartment of the dispensing caddy.

Another embodiment of the dispensing caddy is illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8. As shown, dispensing carton 100 includes a side 102 having perforated tear lines 105 surrounding a tear-out panel 110.

Interior of carton 100, dividers 115 form compartments 135, 136, 137 form separate columns of canned goods 40. In addition, a sheet of cardboard 120 has folded end sections 125, 126 which taper from the back to the front of carton 100 to provide a ramp within the carton 100. This ramp is inclined downwardly from the back side of carton 100 to the front side 102. As shown in FIG. 6, three layers of canned goods 40 are loaded for shipment into carton 100 through one side of the carton 100 into respective compartments 135, 136, 137. The center axis of each can 40 is perpendicular to the divider 115 so that the substantially flat top and bottom surfaces of each can 40 face an end wall or divider wall of carton 100. When located at the point-of-sale, the tear out panel 110 is removed, leaving a dispensing window 150 for each compartment of the dispensing carton 100. As the buyer withdraws a can 40, the can above or behind the one withdrawn either falls or rolls down ramp 120 to replace the withdrawn can.

A feature of the embodiments of FIGS. 1 through 8 is that the lower edge of the dispensing window forms a lip or ridge 150 in the embodiment of FIG. 4 and lip or ridge 155 in the embodiment of FIG. 8. This lip or ridge is sufficiently higher than the floor of the caddy to securely retain the canned goods within the cartons until they are withdrawn by a purchaser.

The cartons described above are typically formed from corrugated cardboard or chip board having the requisite thickness and strength to accommodate the weight of the canned goods carried with in the shipping dispenser container.

The face of side 22 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 and the face of side of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 are advantageously printed with graphics. Such graphics can be used to both make a marketing statement and enhance the appearance of the store in which the goods are shelved. Thus, instead of the jumbled appearance often presented by a stack of canned goods on a store shelf, embodiments of the dispenser caddies described above will typically enhance the appearance of store shelves while providing a very positive marketing statement.

An additional feature of the dispersing caddy is that the ultimate consumer can advantageously use the caddy to take home a bulk pack of canned goods. Thus, this caddy provides a convenient carton to bring the canned goods home from the store and then use the caddy at home to store the cans and dispense each caN only as it is needed.

The above presents a description of the best mode contemplated for the dispensing caddy in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use this apparatus. This dispensing caddy is, however, susceptible to modifications and alternate constructions that are fully equivalent to the embodiments discussed above. Consequently, this dispensing caddy is not limited to the particular embodiment disclosed. On the contrary, this dispensing caddy covers all modifications and alternate constructions coming within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 

1. A caddy for storing products such as canned goods that converts into a gravity-operated dispensing point-of-purchase display unit, the caddy having an interconnected plurality of faces, including top, bottom, front, back, and first and second side faces, comprising one or more vertical compartments within the caddy separated by dividers that maintain the products within each compartment in such an orientation that they do not become wedged within the caddy, a product return opening defined by a first set of perforated tear lines on one or more of the plurality of faces located near the top of the caddy, the return opening extending across all the vertical compartments and sized to allow customers to return the products to their proper compartments within the caddy, a product dispensing opening defined by a second set of perforated tear lines on one or more of the plurality of faces located near the bottom of the caddy, but not extending completely to the bottom face of the caddy, the dispensing opening extending across all the vertical compartments and sized such that the dispensing opening's height is at least equal to the diameter or height of the largest products within the caddy so that customers can remove regularly- or irregularly-shaped objects from the caddy, a lip or ridge at the lower edge of the product dispensing opening that is sufficiently higher than the floor of the caddy to retain the products in the caddy until a product is withdrawn by a customer, and a panel located between the product return opening and the product dispensing opening printed with graphics that market the products in the caddy or enhance the appearance of the store in which the caddy is located.
 2. The caddy of claim 1 where in one of said face's is hinged to one or more of the remaining plurality of faces such that packing of the products within the caddy is facilitated.
 3. The caddy of claim 1 where the product return opening is a quadrilateral.
 4. The caddy of claim 3 where one side of the product return opening is at least partially perforated.
 5. A caddy for storing products such as canned goods that converts into a gravity-operated dispensing point-of-purchase display unit, the caddy having an interconnected plurality of faces, comprising one or more vertical compartments within the caddy separated by dividers that maintain the products within each compartment in such an orientation that they do not become wedged within the caddy, a product return opening defined by a first set of perforated tear lines on one or more of the plurality of faces located near the top of the caddy, the return opening extending across one or more of the vertical compartments and sized to allow customers to return the products to their proper compartments within the caddy, a product dispensing opening defined by a second set of perforated tear lines on one or more of the plurality of faces located near the bottom of the caddy, but not extending completely to the bottom face of the caddy, the dispensing opening extending across substantially all the vertical compartments and sized so that customers can remove regularly- or irregularly-shaped objects from the caddy, and a panel located proximate the product return opening and the product dispensing opening printed for displaying graphics that market the products in the caddy or enhance the appearance of the store in which the caddy is located, said panel having an area substantially the same or larger that the area of said product dispensing opening.
 6. A container that eases shipment of products such as canned goods and that reduces clutter in stores by converting into a gravity-fed dispenser of the products, the container having an interconnected plurality of faces, comprising means for keeping the products arranged during dispensing, eliminating the need to manually stack products, means for allowing customers to return products removed from the container without disassembling the container, means for dispensing products separate from the means for allowing customers to return products, means for keeping the products in the container until a customer removes a product, and means for displaying graphics on the exterior of the container that provide a larger display area than would be available on individual product labels.
 7. The container of claim 6, further comprising means for packing products in the container by opening one of the plurality of faces of the container.
 8. The container of claim 6, further comprising means for subdividing the container into a plurality of compartments.
 9. A method of selling products such as canned goods that encourages customers to help keep the products organized comprising providing a container that dispenses the products through an aperture, providing a product return opening on the container that allows customers to return products to the container, and placing the container in a location that allows customers to remove products from the aperture and return undesired products to the container through the product return opening.
 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing a display panel on the container that identifies which goods belong in the container.
 11. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing a plurality of compartments within the container to provide additional organization of the products.
 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising sizing the dispensing aperture and the product return opening such that both the dispensing aperture and the product return opening are in communication with all of the plurality of compartments.
 13. A container comprising a plurality of faces one or more compartments within the container; a first set of perforated tear lines on one or more of the plurality of faces defining an aperture or hinged panel adjoining or near the top face and extending across all of the compartments; and a second set of perforated tear lines on one or more of the plurality of faces defining an aperture near the bottom face and extending across all of the compartments.
 14. The container of claim 13 where the lower edge of the second set of perforated tear lines forms a lip or ridge above a bottom face of the container.
 15. The container of claim 13 where a front face of the container contains printed graphics.
 16. The container of claim 13 where the first set of perforated tear lines defines a quadrilateral.
 17. The container of claim 16 where one side of the quadrilateral defined by the first set of perforated tear lines is at least partially imperforated.
 18. The container of claim 13 where the height of the aperture defined by the second set of perforated tear lines is greater than the diameter of the goods stored in the container.
 19. The container of claim 13 where in a first side face is hinged to one or more of top, bottom, front, or back faces.
 20. The container of claim 13 where dividers subdivide the interior of the container into two or more compartments.
 21. The subdivided container of claim 20 where the container is loaded with canned goods, the cylindrical axes of which are perpendicular to the divider walls.
 22. The subdivided container of claim 20 where the distances between the side faces and the dividers are slightly greater than the height of the goods within each compartment.
 23. The container of claim 13, further comprising an inclined plane incorporated into or placed on top of a bottom face, which tapers toward a front face.
 24. A container comprising a plurality of faces; one or more compartments within the container; a set of perforated tear lines on one or more of the plurality of faces defining an aperture near a bottom face and extending across all of the compartments; and an inclined plane incorporated into or placed on top of said bottom face, which tapers toward a front face.
 25. The container of claim 24 where the lower edge of the set of perforated tear lines forms a lip or ridge above said bottom face of the container.
 26. The container of claim 24 where a front face of the container contains printed graphics.
 27. The container of claim 24 where a first side face of the container is hinged to one or more of top, bottom, front, or back faces of said container.
 28. The container of claim 24 wherein dividers subdivide the interior of the container into two or more compartments.
 29. The subdivided container of claim 28 wherein the container is adopted to be loaded with canned goods, the cylindrical axes of which are perpendicular to the divider walls.
 30. The subdivided container of claim 28 where the distances between the side faces and the dividers are slightly greater than the height of the goods within each compartment.
 31. A bulk pack container for taking home a plurality of canned goods and neatly dispensing said goods at home, the container having an interconnected plurality of faces, comprising means for keeping the canned goods arranged during dispensing, eliminating the need to manually stack products, means for allowing the user to return cans removed from the container without disassembling the container, and means for dispensing cans separate from the means for allowing the user to return products. 